UK is now a member of IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) – our ambassador in Berlin signed this morning.
Read MoreTalk by Dr Gregor Czisch at the 5th Claverton Energy Conference, House of Commons June 19th 2009
Dr. Czisch gave a very interesting presentation the contents of which is summarised here, Rather than publish a paper on this set, Gregor has given us these links to his site where the varous papers can be studied.
The most relevant one for English speakers is probably this one:
“Low Cost but Totally Renewable Electricity Supply”
Read More"Carbon Trading is Insane" – Hugh Sharman
http://www.pennwellblogs.com/power/2009/06/11/carbon-trading-is-insane/ June 11th, 2009 This post is filed under the following categories: Yesterday I attended the UK’s Nuclear Industry Forum, an annual gathering of utilities, politicians, EPCs, NGOs, OEMs and auxiliary service providers, to discuss the prospects of a nuclear renaissance. Vincent De Rivaz, CEO of EDF Energy (the British arm of the French state-owned […]
Read MoreNote from TREC on extra supergrid / DESERTEC links
Hi Andrew, House of Commons presentation, June 18th 2009- European Supergrid and 100% Renewable Energy Congratulations on organising the above meeting at the HoC about supergrids and thanks for your support in that area. In connection with supergrids, you may be interested to put some or all of the following links on to the website […]
Read MoreAlternative Financing Models for Transportation – A Case Study of Land Taxation in Utah
Recent events have highlighted the consequences of inadequate attention to infrastructure funding. Current funding strategies focus on fuel taxes, transfers from general funds, user fees, toll roads, congestion pricing, and using technology to enhance the fee structure of the current system. This article examines another alternative, a property tax focused on the value of […]
Read More"trams as the preferred solution for public transport in urban areas"
How very sensible of you to recommend trams as the preferred solution for public transport in urban areas. I attach a note on the potential for integrating waste recycling with ultra light trams. If really good tram networks are installed (and the cost of installing lightweight rail has now been brought below £2 million per route kilometre double track) then, together with pedestrianisation, cycling and rickshaws, urban mobility can be brought to a very high level before having to bring in a few electric taxis.
Unfortunately I cannot get any of the relevant Departments in Government even to discuss these proposals, although Jonathon Porritt has now volunteered to take up the issue. I attach a copy of a letter to Hoon which still awaits a reply. The programme I am suggesting could easily be funded from a progressive transfer of money from the so-called Bus Service Operators Grant which spends some £400 million a year in subsidy to reduce the cost of fuel for diesel buses! The waste needs to be recycled urgently to prevent methane emissions to the atmosphere and to take some of the strain off landfill.
Read MoreClaverton Energy Group view on European Supergrid HVDC interconnector
A significant number of Claverton Energy Group members acknowledge Britain could have energy security and a fully sustainable clean supply of affordable electricity within 30 years (15 years with a crash program) by embracing the European Supergrid (akin to the UK national grid but on a larger scale, linking up Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland, Central Europe, the Ukraine, and north Africa). However, the group is worried that UK energy companies acting without government instruction will be unable and even reluctant to implement it. The 250 strong independent group of energy experts, including a number who wish to remain anonymous because of their positions within the big 6 energy companies, is calling on the government to intervene now to avoid an unregulated energy industry making the kinds of mistakes that were made by an unregulated banking industry.
Read MoreA reader writes – the history of energy resources and the economy
Dear Hugh Thanks for this. My own view is that relatively low oil prices, which set the bench mark for all other primary energy sources, was the reason why the world economy was able to expand so fast. Energy prices work their way through to all other prices including salaries. and these then work back […]
Read MoreAre nuclear energy and wind energy fundamentally incompatible in large penetrations due to the intermittency of one and the inflexibility of the other?
Dear P I made a mistake,….. it was EDF and E.ON who made the submission. Not E.ON and National Power (who are now owned by RWE). Effectively they are saying exactly what was pointed out in the “Briefing Note” that was published in the Inst of Civils Energy Journal two years ago. I attach a […]
Read MoreEnergy is everything – what is really behind the financial crisis – something which eludes bankers and economists
Great article on the present complete inability of economists and politicians to see what is actually going on: See full thing at: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8817&page=1 It is fascinating to watch the behaviour of our political and business leaders as they attempt to cope with the world’s deepening financial crisis. It is becoming clear that they don’t […]
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